READ ALSO. It has not stopped with a threat: 3M was unable to respond to inspection and now has to partially shut down production (+)
The Environment Department and the Care and Health agency announced on Friday that 3M must at least temporarily shut down production lines that emit PFAS. The company had failed to convince the environmental inspector that the factory’s emissions would not further burden the environment.
The chemical company has now formally appealed against that decision to the Council of State. “These measures would prevent us from serving our global customers in key industries without apparent public health or environmental benefits,” it said in a press release.
According to the company’s press release, all information has always been openly shared with the competent authorities on, among other things, the activities of 3M Zwijndrecht, including wastewater discharges and air emissions, health sciences and ecotoxicology, PFAS sampling and risk assessment information. “We will continue to do that,” it sounds. “We are always willing to meet with the Environmental Inspectorate to help answer specific questions.”
The chemical company also says it has previously agreed to lower discharge standards and install the best available control technologies. “However, these changes can only be made with a reasonable transition period, within a legal framework, and in consultation, so that the chosen technology can meet our shared goals.”
PFOS levels in the blood too high
The Flemish government had issued 3M with an ultimatum after the results of a first blood test among local residents last week showed that nine out of ten blood levels of PFOS were too high. The company tried to convince the environmental inspectorate on Thursday that the factory in Zwijndrecht does not additionally expose local residents to PFAS, but was unable to do so.
On Friday, 3M had already let it be known that the company disagreed with the environmental inspection. It also said at the time that it strictly adheres to environmental law and general regulations.
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Minister Demir: “Little sense of responsibility”
Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) is not pleased with the appeal submitted by 3M.
“We regret that 3M has not simply resigned itself to measures that protect our environment and people’s health. She also previously appealed against the stricter discharge standards of the province of Antwerp,” Demir responds. “That doesn’t show a great sense of responsibility towards the community, the environment and its own employees.”
She points out that the appeal does not have a suspensive effect, “so the production processes involved will have to be stopped anyway”. “For the rest, we will defend the measure of the Environmental Inspectorate and Care and Health. After all, they did not happen overnight.”
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